“This Became a Lifeline”: Volena’s Enigmatic, Yearning, and Expansive Debut EP Represents a Raw Coming-of-Age Awakening - Atwood Magazine

      From quiet folk confessions to vibrant indie rock dreams, Brooklyn's Volena makes a bold entrance with their self-titled debut – a raw and beautifully authentic exploration of queer identity, heartbreak, healing, and self-discovery. Frontwoman Maddie Grandusky-Howe delves into the essence, background, and significance of the EP, revealing the origins of each song, the inspiration behind the name Volena, and the familial ties that helped bring these melodies to fruition.

      Stream: “Song About Winter” – Volena

      “I spent the creation of ‘Volena’ in my early twenties, facing numerous challenges and learning a great deal about myself and who I aspire to be.”

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      Volena possesses a raw, radiant energy – one that does not shout but rather steadily ignites. Their self-titled debut EP serves as a record of reckoning, reflection, and rebirth, encapsulating the essence of survival — illuminating one's pain and allowing it to flourish into something beautifully complete. Across six tracks, this New York City-based quintet presents a personal narrative of growth: questioning identity, stepping into new roles, and reclaiming strength amidst heartbreak, healing, queerness, and the unpredictable landscape of early adulthood.

      The EP transitions from a gentle folk confession to a whimsical indie rock reverie, culminating in an all-out alt-rock fever dream. Yet, the common thread is clear: these are the chronicles of a self undergoing transformation. Volena embodies a reckoning and a release – a courageous, unfiltered, and deeply vulnerable coming-of-age story. It serves as a poignant introduction.

      Volena – Volena

      There’s a man outside my front door

      In a chair every evening

      He enjoys smoking a cigarette

      And always greets me

      I appreciate his consistency

      And lack of fear regarding commitment

      And pending my own monogamy

      That’s how I wish to go

      I’d prefer to die in Brooklyn than

      Spend a day in Texas

      I’d rather call my mother

      Than visit her at home

      I favor my skylight

      The dust beneath my table

      And nothing is more stable

      Than a man who sits alone

      – “Song About Winter,” Volena

      Released on April 4th, 2025 via Nothing to Exist, Volena is a powerful fusion of sound and emotion – and a long-awaited creation. Led by singer/songwriter Maddie Grandusky-Howe, Volena began as a personal lifeline – a way to navigate survival, songwriting, and self-exploration – and has transformed through several years of personal upheaval and creative renewal.

      “Although I’ve been singing and writing since I can remember, it became a lifeline following my coming out as queer during my junior year of college,” they shared with Atwood Magazine. “While living in Brooklyn, I performed at queer songwriting showcases, house shows, and open mics with just my guitar. Less than a year later, I entered an emotionally abusive relationship with someone significantly older, causing my artistic pursuits to falter. I deleted my entire catalog from the internet. I ceased performing. I felt adrift. The pandemic amplified my feelings of isolation, confusion, and dissociation.”

      “Fast-forward three and a half years: I left my engagement with the abusive partner. Billy and I had been friends (Laura is my best friend from college) and we had jammed years before. After everything unfolded, he reached out to see if I’d like to hang out and if I’d been writing. We began collaborating on my songs, and it became evident that something was taking shape. Shortly after, I was introduced to our producer Griffin and bassist Ross through the local music scene. Eventually, my favorite power duo, John and Laura Supnik, joined to develop arrangements for a studio session. We initially aimed to record 2 or 3 songs but ended up finishing 5 in a single session at Figure 8, dedicating the remainder of 2024 to complete the EP.”

      “It sounds cliché, but I’ve matured alongside these songs,” Grandusky-Howe continued. “It feels like I’m writing a letter to the eight-year-old me who had cousins perform original songs with them in a band every year, and also to the twenty-two-year-old me who simply loved writing and didn't overthink the process. I spent the making of Volena in my early twenties, experiencing many failures and learning a great deal about who I want to be.”

      Although Volena began as a solo venture, it rapidly grew into a more expansive collaboration – a five-member band grounded in friendship, trust, and creative connection. Grandusky-Howe is now joined by guitarists Billy Gartrell and Laura Supnik, bassist Ross Langdon Page, and drummer John Supnik. What began as a few jam sessions developed into a cohesive musical world built on shared experiences and a collective desire to bring these intimate narratives to life.

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